Ask An Expert: Can I sue for noise?

I bought an apartment in a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, only to discover the walls are paper thin. Forget footsteps -- I hear the neighbors having sex, dogs barking, babies crying and everything in between.

Was it the seller's obligation to disclose this issue? Do I have any legal recourse against them?

The best way to answer your question is with a Latin phrase: caveat emptor, or buyer beware. In New York City apartment sales, it’s the buyer who assumes the risks of the purchase, including the potential for noise transmission, our experts say.

“This is likely due to the fact that individual cooperators and condominium unit owners do not control the common areas and systems of the buildings in which they live,” he says. “Thus, they may not have the information necessary to provide the disclosure required by the act nor the ability to address many of the property conditions discussed in the property disclosure form.”

In practice, that means buyers have to do their own inspections and due diligence when purchasing apartments, he says.

“In the contract of sale you acknowledge that you have made a thorough inspection of the unit and are familiar with its condition and agree to accept the present ‘as is’ condition,” says real estate broker Shirley Hackel of Warburg Realty. “Before you sign the contract, you have an obligation to inspect the premises thoroughly and even hire an engineer to investigate.”

A “diligent” broker may have noticed the problem and tried to negotiate a better deal, including soundproofing, she says. “A smart attorney could also protect you by including a clause in the contract rider that asks the seller to represent he/she is not aware of a laundry list of items, including but not limited to noise, leaks, vermin, bed bugs, odors and vibrations,” which would put the onus on the seller to come clean about any issues, she adds.

Lastly, there is one exception to the “buyer beware” rule, and that’s if you can prove the seller committed fraud. Did he or she specifically tell you something about noise transmission that turned out to be a lie?

“If the seller made any false or misleading statements about the walls or the lack of soundproofing, that would be fraud and you could sue,” Hackel says.

Still, it would be tough to prove, says real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuel. “If the problem is inferior construction/soundproofing then chances are this possible defect is pervasive throughout the building and therefore already somewhat baked into the prices units are selling for.”

Leigh Kamping-Carder is a senior editor at BrickUnderground.com, the online survival guide to finding a NYC apartment and living happily ever after. To see more expert answers or to ask a real estate question, click here.